Powell House (California)
Powell House | |
The building in 2025 | |
Location of building in California | |
| Location | 203 S. Pine St, Nevada City, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°15′44″N 121°01′08″W / 39.2621°N 121.0188°W |
| Built | 1855 or 1860 |
| Part of | Nevada City Downtown Historic District (ID85002520) |
| Designated CP | September 23, 1985 |
Powell House, formerly Nevada City Baptist Church, is a historic residence and former church in Nevada City, California.
History
Powell House, originally Nevada City Baptist Church, was built as a one-story frame structure in 1855[1][2] or 1860.[3] It was not damaged during the Nevada City fire of 1863, the city's last citywide fire, and provided facilities for the other congregations that did sustain losses.[3]
Emma Nevada made her singing debut in the church either at age three in 1862/63[2] or age five in 1864/65.[3]
E. T. R. Powell, operator of Nevada City Soda Works, bought the building in 1886 and enlarged it significantly.[3] He also divided the building into two living quarters, divided the congregation room into sixteen rooms, and manufactured soda in the ground-floor basement.[1]
The building was later bought by Charles Woods and David Osborn, founders of the nearby American Victorian Museum, who used this building as a residence and boarding house. They later converted the building into a "teddy bear castle" with 3,000 teddy bears on display.[1]
The building was listed as a contributing property in the Nevada City Downtown Historic District in 1985.[3]
Powell House was bought for $730,000 in 2006[1] ($1.17 million in 2025) and reopened in 2011 as a five-unit apartment complex. The building had previously been converted to a ten-room hotel.[4]
Architecture and design
Powell House was originally a one-story frame that featured a tall steeple over a gable. The building was later expanded to two-stories.[3]
The building's entrance is elevated, framed by an archway, topped by a transom, and features two doors carved in their lower panel with a glass panel above. The second story features a balustraded balcony on top of heavy double brackets, above which a gabled shingled roof is supported by two arches, the arches supported by ornamental posts.[3]
The building features single glass pane windows with original 1860 stained glass panels above.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d "Powell House: New owner Nevada City landmark wants apartments, retail". The Union. September 30, 2009.
- ^ a b E Clampus Vitus (October 5, 1965). "Powell Home". City of Nevada City – via hmdb.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Nevada City Downtown Historic District". National Park Service. September 23, 1985. and accompanying photos
- ^ Rosacker, Christopher (November 27, 2011). "Historic Powell building open for rent". The Union.